The Hovercraft Society
Office Address: The
Hovercraft Society, 2 Severn Close,
Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8QT United Kingdom
e-mail: Thehovsociety@aol.com
The United Kingdom Hovercraft Society was formed in 1971, later becoming ‘The Hovercraft Society’.
The Society supports the Hovercraft Museum Trust in it’s aim to set up an International Hovercraft Centre to promote and acknowledge the hovercraft world past and present.
The Society’s activities include lectures and films on various aspects of the hovercraft industry past and present. Visits to hovercraft manufacturers and establishments, and social events are also organised.
The Society is run by a council consisting of well respected persons from the hovercraft industry. Council members are nominated and voted on to Council on an annual basis at the Society’s AGM.
The Main objectives of the Hovercraft Society are:
1. The encouragement of invention, research and development of Hovercraft, and other related issues.
2. Discussion on operating and trading aspects of Hovercraft.
3. The Circulation of a quarterly newsletter - the Hovercraft Bulletin.
If you wish to join or obtain more information on the Hovercraft Society, please write to us or e-mail for a membership form.
THE HOVERCRAFT SOCIETY ACADEMIC AWARD SCHEME
The Hovercraft Society is committed to widening knowledge of hovercraft and the air cushion principle. As part of this commitment, the Society runs an award scheme aimed at higher education which seeks to encourage air cushion related studies and projects.
The award scheme is primarily, but not exclusively,
aimed at undergraduate projects, theses or dissertations. Proposals concerning
work within an established higher education course are preferred but worthwhile
educational projects outside such courses have been accepted in the past.
Applications are invited from a wide range of
disciplines, not just engineering and science based courses. The following list
gives some idea of the range of topics on which a proposal might be based.
However, the list is not exhaustive and other relevant proposals would be
welcomed. The bulk of the work on the project must be UK based and linked with a
British higher education establishment. The proposal may be from an individual
or from a group.
 |
Improving vehicle performance e.g. propulsion, lift systems, skirt systems, vehicle aerodynamics, sea-keeping, manoeuvrability |
|
Geographical studies e.g. potential hovercraft routes, studies in oilfield logistics, tourist applications, potential search and rescue markets. |
|
Materials
technology e.g. lightweight structures, corrosion control, construction
techniques, skirt materials. |
|
Management
and Economics e.g. reduction of manufacturing or operating costs,
marketing, market expansion, hovercraft versus competitor vehicles. |
|
Vehicle/mechanical
engineering e.g. engine adaptations, transmissions, alternative fuels,
weight saving measures. |
The present value of the award is up to £400. When an
award is made, half the amount is paid at the time of the award and the rest
paid at the conclusion of the project. The funds are not intended to cover the
cost of specific goods or services but are awarded as a general assistance to
the project. As part of the arrangement with the Society, the recipient(s) will
be required to present a summary of the project and its results to a meeting of
the Society or its Council.
Proposals should be addressed to the Chairman of the
Hovercraft Society c/o The Hovercraft Museum and should contain the following
information.
Details
and background of the applicant(s) and the educational establishment together
with a contact referee e.g. course tutor.
Description of the proposed project covering the background, the potential value of the results, the scope and a plan for the proposed work together with an intended timescale.
Back to the Hovercraft Museum Home Page